The Interoperability Gap Between P25 and DMR
During a genuine emergency, several organisations typically need to coordinate at once. Police and fire crews are the obvious example, but schools, utilities, local government, surf lifesaving and transport operators are often part of the same response, and they frequently run on entirely different radio standards.
P25 is the dominant public safety communications standard across Oceania and North America, while DMR is widely used by local government, utilities, schools and other organisations that are not part of the core emergency services network. There is no inherent interoperability between the two. A police radio on P25 simply cannot talk directly to a council radio on DMR, no matter how urgent the situation.
The Tait 9900 series was built specifically to remove that gap, supporting both standards in a single device so agencies can coordinate without swapping hardware or relying on a dispatcher to relay messages between two separate networks.
Multiband Performance Without Locking You In
Tait 9900 series radios are configurable to operate across any combination of VHF, UHF, 700/800MHz and 900MHz bands. Ordering and deployment of single, dual or multiband operation is straightforward at time of purchase, and bands are not locked. A fleet can be reconfigured later as operational needs change, rather than requiring a hardware swap.
The TM9900 mobile is available in a 50W VHF, 40W UHF, 35W 700/800MHz and 900MHz release for North American deployments, with a 25W VHF/UHF release available for other regions including New Zealand.
Supported Network Modes
- Conventional analogue
- P25 conventional digital
- P25 Trunking Phase 1 and Phase 2
- DMR Tier 2 conventional
- DMR Tier 3 trunking
Changing between these modes is as simple as changing channel, meaning field staff do not need to understand the underlying network technology to use it correctly.
TP9900 Portable: Built for the Field
Here's a closer look at what the multiband, multiprotocol platform behind the TP9900 and TM9900 actually does.
The TP9900 is one of the lightest P25 and DMR multiband portables available, weighing 324g with the slimline battery or 382g with the high-capacity battery. Its ergonomic radio grip and controls are designed for easy operation with or without gloves, and it shares batteries, chargers and audio accessories with the rest of the Tait TP9000 series.
Safety and Location Features
Man Down and Lone Worker functions are standard on the TP9900, sending automated safety alerts, and integrated GNSS is standard for location services. Bluetooth audio accessories and Wi-Fi over-the-air programming are also supported, and its dual-microphone active noise cancellation removes background noise in both analogue and digital modes.
TM9900 Mobile: Control Head Options for Every Fleet
The TM9900 has one of the largest ranges of control head options in its class, letting an operation choose the interface best suited to a specific role. Options include local dash mounts and remote kits, a built-in 4W speaker or built-in keypad, an optional keypad microphone, and a 15W rugged external speaker compatible with any Tait control head.
This flexibility genuinely reduces the cost of a fleet upgrade, since a vehicle installation can be tailored to the operator's needs rather than forcing a single control layout across an entire fleet. GNSS location services are optional on the TM9900 rather than standard, and the mobile also supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi over-the-air programming and 4G LTE connectivity options.
Why This Matters for New Zealand Organisations
New Zealand's emergency services operate on a P25-based public safety network, now known as SafetyNet Critical Communications following its transition from the previous NGCC platform. As that network's coverage extends further into civil defence, emergency management and search and rescue coordination, more allied organisations are being asked to interoperate with agencies running on P25, even when their own day-to-day fleet runs on DMR.
This is exactly the scenario the 9900 series solves. A council, utility, school or transport operator running DMR does not need to replace its entire fleet to coordinate with a P25 agency during a joint response. Mobile Systems Limited supplies, installs and services communication hardware for organisations working alongside New Zealand's public safety network, and the 9900 series is a genuine option where that kind of cross-network coordination is a real operational requirement rather than a hypothetical one.
The 9900 series is also software-upgradeable, so an organisation can start with single-band P25 or DMR capability and add multiband, multiprotocol capability later as requirements change, without replacing the hardware itself.
Get the Tait 9900 Series Through Mobile Systems
The TP9900 portable and TM9900 mobile are available to order now. As New Zealand specialists in Tait Communications hardware, Mobile Systems Limited works directly with Tait's engineering and design team to scope, order, and configure the right combination of bands and protocols for your organisation.
Specialist Ordering
Direct access to Tait's product range and engineering team to configure the right bands and protocols.
Installation & Programming
Professional vehicle installation and radio programming across your fleet.
Licensing Advice
Practical guidance on RSM licensing for your operational frequencies.
Ongoing Servicing
Local support and hardware servicing to keep your fleet operational long-term.
If your organisation runs a DMR fleet on Tait's TP9800 or TM9800 multiband radios and is weighing up whether P25 multiprotocol capability is worth the step up, our Tait TP9800 review covers the DMR-only multiband range in more detail for comparison.
For New Zealand organisations interested in the Tait 9900 series, or to discuss whether a multiband, multiprotocol solution suits your operation, get in touch with the Mobile Systems team, New Zealand's Tait Communications specialists.
